Mavrik Bourque // Scouting Report #10
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165lbs.
D.O.B.: 1/08/02
Stats: 29 Goals, 42 Assists, 71 Points, 49 games played
Team: Shawinigan Cataractes, QMJHL
Position: Center
Most outstanding stat: 153 EV/SH, avg. 20 min. Playing time PG
Blue line to Blue line time: 1.58
Letter, (A-F)=Consistency, A is most consistent
Number, (1-5)=tier of talent, 1 being highest
Rank:
12th by EliteProspects.com
19th by Future Considerations
28th by ISS Hockey
20th by TSN/Craig Button
22nd by McKeens Hockey
22nd by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
19th by Consolidated Rankings
26th by TSN/Bob McKenzie
20th by Dr. Tee Scouting
Scouting report:
What’s up guys? And for my 10th scouting report of the 2020 season we’re going to be looking over French-Canadian centerman Mavrik Bourque of the Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL. And similar to Marat Khusnutdinov he’s another player that will be a very big steal, he’s pretty underrated even though people have him in their teens in their mock drafts, he’s one of the more underrated players sort of like what Liam Foudy was in the 2018 draft. He’s super fun to watch so let’s find out why, and let’s dive right in.
Move - 2C
Bourque has good top end speed once he gets going, and just pretty simple, and good skating overall.
This is a picture of Mavrik Bourque Fighting for a loose puck during a game between the Shawinigan Cataractes, and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL in the Centre 200 in Quebec, Canada.
Bourque really isn’t anything super special in his skating department of his game, but it’s still definitely above average at least. He possesses high end top speed once he really gets going, he has a very powerful stride, maybe not very long but it is very powerful, and it helps him to cover a lot of ice pretty quickly. His agility is I would say pretty good as well, he can make quick turns at times to burn defenders in their tracks and does have the ability to really combine his feet and his hands in a dynamic duo type thing. I did find inconsistencies with his overall skating though, as he can stand straight up on back checks, and just glide, and other times instead of stopping in the defensive zone and still staying on track with his man he’d make a long turn, and really burn out all of the momentum he had moving forward. He has average mobility, acceleration, and guess you could say that his explosiveness goes in the category of a powerful stride, but I found that he had a very good first few steps which was really powering himself forward. With Bourque his game is pretty straight forward. “When I’m having a good day I’ll skate, but you have to catch me on a good day.” He’ll need to work on that moving forward, but there’s not just all bad in his skating game. There are some instances where he’ll absolutely explode in the offensive zone and absolutely embarrass defenders and leave them in his dust. The big thing to work in with Bourque is consistency. If he can refine that a little bit, as well as being a little more mobile, and agile at times, I do see potential for this area of his game to be at least compatible.
Dangle - 1B
Let’s just say that the overall ability that Bourque has to keep the puck on his stick is what is really going for him.
He adapts under pressure very well, he can get very creative with the puck making some insanely difficult plays, and he can also be patient, out waiting defenders until a passing or shooting lane opens up. He has great offensive instincts as well, knowing the right time to either pass, or shoot the puck. He can almost nag at defenders as well, daring them to come and try to get the puck. He has great puck control, which allows him to move the puck up the ice with complete confidence, and free will. He also has some pretty slick hands overall, he can make some crazy moves in tight, and work with the puck very well in stride, and in movement. He has the ability to catch wild passes in stride, and when he's getting ready to shoot as well. He can pass while in movement too, and really just do it all. I really feel that Bourque is a player that you’re drafting because of his puck skills, and the ability that he has to control the game with them. Bourque is a player that can be a Debbie downer at times in some other parts of his game, but if you can coach him out of that, and teach him how to really use his hands more often along with his creativity that he brings to the game, then I see no reason why Bourque can’t become an amazing silky smooth offensive forward.
Snipe - 1B
Every single bone in my body wanted to give Bourque a 1A in this category of his game but it just came down to that tiny bit of strength that he may be able to add onto his shot.
Let’s just start off by saying that Bourque is by far one of the best shooters in this draft, no questions asked. He has pinpoint accuracy, and an insane scoring touch. He can simply put the puck in the back of the net no doubt about it. He has a great shot in movement, he has a great shot off balance, and for a little flash at times a great toe drag shot, where he pulls the puck in close to his body, and absolutely rips one, and still has a pretty hard shot, or one that at least improved. With added strength it will definitely make him even better, especially in the NHL, but at least in juniors he’ll be known for his great overall shot. His wheelhouse is right on top of the circles, or right on the right dot where he can either use his patiences, and stickhandling and set up a teammate, or use it to put wait the goalie, or he can rip a shot a shot short side, or over the goalies shoulder while in movement. This all combined with his stickhandling/puck control, vision, hockey IQ, speed once he really gets going, and his shot all combine to smoke a very scary dual threat offensive player that can operate in many situations. I honestly don’t know what else I can possibly say besides his shot is astounding!
Defensive mindset - 3D
Bourque...is a...big case study to yet be solved and the coach that does solve it is the next Scotty Bowman.
I really didn't see Bourque becoming a center in the NHL unless he can really round his game in the next few years. He can be very irresponsible in the defensive zone, being a bit of a floater, and watching the puck a lot, as well as not really back checking at the rate that he can be with his speed. He can just get completely lost in the defensive zone at times, and he can really limit what he does in the defensive zone. He can chip pucks everywhere when you apply pressure to him, and really be that “wah?” player in the defensive zone. He can abandon the defensive game way too much, and he really isn’t the player to be going in those dirty areas around the ice, and consistently buzzing around like I would say a Marat Khusnutdinov would do. I do give him credit for the times that he does get his hands dirty along the boards, and the times that he back checks like a complete maniac, but he can be a “once in a blue moon'' kind of player similar to Andrei Svechnikov. He can wreak complete havoc on defenders when they are regrouping and can easily take the puck away from players coming up the ice. I would just really like to see that from him more. He has all the tools in his tool box to become at least reliable most of the time in his own end. Shawinigan didn’t play a very structured game in the defensive zone, which can be to blame sometimes, but I think it’s mostly to do with the fact that Bourque can flat out sleep on plays at times. But this is a player that I do believe in, and does have that little extra give in him which can decide if he’s going to make the NHL or not.
Overall - 1D
Overall, Bourque can be a little bit of a high risk high reward player. The things that he can do with his hands and his shot are very rare things to see in a player at such a high level, and his playmaking makes it even more insane. His skating, once he gets going, is pretty effective as well, and if he can be more mobile around the ice then sure, I think I’ll take a chance in this kid. If there’s a way for him to balance out his defensive game with his offensive game then this is a player that will turn out to be borderline unstoppable when he’s with possession of the puck, or the puck is around him.
Dual threat center
Player Comparison: Andrei Svechnikov
Svechnikov and Bourque both play a high tempo playmaking game, with an insane ability to shoot the puck from anywhere on the ice with a great finish. They both have good skating, even though Svechnikov may be a little more mobile, I think I’d give the speed to Bourque once he gets going. Like Svechnikov they can both improve on their defensive game, but the potential that they possess is still pretty great, and they both show flashes of great back checking and back pressure.
More reports: Draft dynasty, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IvcRSjwvb_8